32 replies to this topic

[JDImini]

Hi sorry if this has been asked before, just took the mini out for a quick drive this afternoon, as I was getting home I noticed right indicator working fine but left not and as I pulled up outside the house there was a faint smell of burning and a wisp of smoke came out of the steering column shroud so disconnected the battery as quickly as I could.

 

Once I got the steering column shroud off I noticed two wires one black and one light purple or lilac connected to a female Bullet type connector was disconnected from the indicator stalk side so I reconnected the battery and connected the wires it but now neither indicator worked and there seemed to be a slight electrical crackle. I also tested the hazard warning lights and there was a click, click as if they were working, which then stopped and they aren't working either

 

 IMG_6060.jpg   37.08K   2 downloads

 

This is probably unrelated but I'll throw it in the mix just in case. With the ignition off sidelights work on first light switch position then do dipped headlights on second switch position, main beam and flash also work, however with the ignition on the light switch in the first side light position I get dipped headlights which stay on with light switch in second position, main beam and flash also work.

 

This is an 89 Mini Thirty now with a single centre speedo, with higher spec headlights and the relay as as not to blow the light switch

 

Thanks

Darren

Edited by JDImini, 01 November 2020 - 06:26 PM.

[cal844]

Check your interior light works, if not it's the inline Fuse on the purple/orange wire, located behind the carb

[sonscar]

The light operation could easily be correct if the dim/dip lighting is still OK.It operates the headlamps dimly when the engine is running when sidelights are selected,a short lived "safety" system.Steve..

[Ethel]

The colours don't sound right to me, but I suspect it's the horn wiring. Have a look at the connector where they emerge from the shroud & see what colour the wires they connect to in the loom are.

 

Agree with Steve about the dim/dip if there's no difference in brightness between when the ignition's on and you switch from side to headlights it's probably down to the ballast resister which  lives on the bulkhead near the radiator. It's nothing to worry about, as long as the wiring isn't looking like it could fall to pieces and short.

[JDImini]

Check your interior light works, if not it's the inline Fuse on the purple/orange wire, located behind the carb

Hi Cal844,

 

You were right the in-line fuse behind the card had blown, I replaced it and guess what it blew again so I obviously have a problem somewhere spent most of the day testing and got no where

 

I really struggle with electrics don't seem to get my head around them

[JDImini]

I've bought a minispares indicator stalk, a hazard flasher unit and indicator flasher unit and not getting very far with resolving the problem

 

I'm trying to test the flasher unit out of the car like this  

 

 Flasher unit test rig.jpg   140.62K   0 downloads

 

top connector to -ve and bottom to +ve

 

but its not working. With the flasher unit out of the circuit the light comes on when connected to battery, but including the flashed unit it's not working . 

 

Terminals of flasher unit L to bulb and X to battery.

 

Not keen on electrics so may have got the circuit wrong, any advice gratefully received 

 

Thanks

Darren

Edited by JDImini, 07 November 2020 - 06:17 PM.

[Quinlan minor]

A flasher unit works only when the preset current passes through it. You need both front and rear 21W bulbs, plus side repeater (if fitted) bulb connected in (and working), before the unit will flash them.

[JDImini]

A flasher unit works only when the preset current passes through it. You need both front and rear 21W bulbs, plus side repeater (if fitted) bulb connected in (and working), before the unit will flash them.

Thanks Quinlan minor, that's really useful. I thought I might have a dead flasher unit. I need to check all bulbs as that might be the problem.  

[Ethel]

Are you hooking your test rig up to a car battery?

 

It should do something with only one bulb fitted.

 

A blown fuse suggests there's a short. You could put your test light in place of the fuse to help find - disconnect connectors etc. when the bulb goes out you'll have disconnected the short.

[JDImini]

Are you hooking your test rig up to a car battery?

 

It should do something with only one bulb fitted.

 

A blown fuse suggests there's a short. You could put your test light in place of the fuse to help find - disconnect connectors etc. when the bulb goes out you'll have disconnected the short.

Hi Ethel, yep I connected it to the mini's battery. Thank you for the test idea I'll try that tomorrow 

[GraemeC]

Regarding the headlights - sounds like the dim dip system is working fine, but because you’ve introduced a relay (presumably triggered but the original wire to the dip beam) you will not see the dimmed effect, just full brightness.

 

Purple and black do sound like the horn. If one of these were loose then that could’ve shorted to blow the fuse.

 

As said, the flasher unit requires some load to work properly. If your test rig used a 21W indicator lamp then it should work, but flash too fast. However it looks like your using a twin filament stop/tail lamp, so if it is the 5W ‘tail’ side you have rigged up it may not work.

[bpirie1000]

Disconnect the wires at the bottom of the column and test them from there...

[JDImini]

Regarding the headlights - sounds like the dim dip system is working fine, but because you’ve introduced a relay (presumably triggered but the original wire to the dip beam) you will not see the dimmed effect, just full brightness.

 

Purple and black do sound like the horn. If one of these were loose then that could’ve shorted to blow the fuse.

 

As said, the flasher unit requires some load to work properly. If your test rig used a 21W indicator lamp then it should work, but flash too fast. However it looks like your using a twin filament stop/tail lamp, so if it is the 5W ‘tail’ side you have rigged up it may not work.

Hi GraemeC, you're spot on with the bulb I've used, I'll try it with an indicator bulb - Thank you!

 

That was an amazing spot to realise what bulb I was using - You must have a Steve Austin bionic eye - this won't mean a thing if your under 50 just look up 6 million dollar man 

 

I think you are right with the headlights as well but just to clarify is sidelights and dipped not dipped and main (high) beam

 

ignition off side lights work and dipped and main beam.

 

Ignition on as soon as I turn the light switch to the first (side light) position I get dipped headlights. The main beam works as expected flash or on with the steering column stalk

 

Cheers

Edited by JDImini, 08 November 2020 - 12:06 PM.

[JDImini]

plan for today - Not sure if it's right so any comments suggestion much appreciated

 

with battery disconnected remove all the indicator bulbs and test to see if they are working - easy to do 

 

remove hazard flasher unit and wire straight through - easy to do 

 

reconnect battery - easy to do

 

with ignition off check in-line fuse behind carb which is 35a (is this right? That's what the Haynes manual says) Try not to drop where it disappears on the front sub frame and joins its mate from yesterday thankfully got quite a few fuses    - a bit fiddly as oil pressure line in way

 

or use interior light as the check that the fuse hasn't blown as this is on the same in-line fuse - easy to do 

 

install one indicator bulb at a time (front back and repeater), switch the hazard switch and check the bulb comes on constant as now no flasher unit installed and hope the fuse doesn't blow - check with the interior light - easy

 

If all the above works not sure where to go from there, suppose try with 2 indicator bulbs at a time, 2 back, then 2 front, 1 front and 1 back same sides, 1 front and 1 back same sides and repeaters mixed in. Keep increasing the number of bulbs until the fuse blows - probable over thinking this

 

if none of this works sit in the corner of the garage sobbing and gently rocking back and forth

[Ethel]

 

 

Hi Ethel, yep I connected it to the mini's battery. Thank you for the test idea I'll try that tomorrow 

 

I'm inclined to think the flasher's duff then.